COVID-19 update: B.C. adds 814 new cases, no deaths
B.C. health officials announced 814 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths from the disease on Wednesday.
The latest update leaves B.C. with 5,550 active cases of the coronavirus. Of those, 261 people are hospitalized, and 129 of them are in intensive care units.
Both active cases and the rolling seven-day average for new cases increased slightly from Tuesday to Wednesday. There were 5,465 active cases on Tuesday, when the province provided its first update on the pandemic in four days because of the Labour Day long weekend.
The rolling average grew from 669 on Tuesday to 673 on Wednesday, after dropping over the long weekend.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 171,564 confirmed COVID-19 infections in B.C., and 1,842 people have died.
Most of the infections detected Wednesday were in the Interior Health and Fraser Health regions, which saw 272 and 241 new cases, respectively.
Vancouver Coastal Health added 135 cases, Island Health added 90 and Northern Health added 72, while four of those who tested positive normally reside outside Canada.
Interior Health has been the focal point of B.C.'s fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, with health officials blaming larger unvaccinated populations there and in Northern Health, as well as the highly infectious Delta variant, for the surge in cases since July.
Of the 4,691 infections recorded across B.C. between Aug. 31 and Sept. 6, 69.2 per cent were among people who are unvaccinated, according to the Ministry of Health.
Cases among fully vaccinated people accounted for 22.2 per cent of all cases during the period, while the remaining 8.6 per cent of cases were among partially vaccinated people.
On a per-capita basis, there were 30 cases per 100,000 fully vaccinated residents between Aug. 31 and Sept. 6, compared to 244.4 infections per 100,000 unvaccinated people.
Localized restrictions have been put in place in both Interior Health and Northern Health in response to the rising transmission.
Health officials also announced details of the province's vaccine passport system on Tuesday. Beginning on Sept. 13, a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be required to participate in certain non-essential activities, including dining at restaurants and ticketed events and performances.
More than 85 per cent of B.C. residents ages 12 and older have received at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 77.7 per cent in that age group have received both shots.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.